How'd that happen? So far, this year seems to be flying by. Which is good, because Spring will start showing up before long! But it's probably time to take down my Christmas cards. I like seeing them; they remind me of people I love. (OK, not the one from my husband's dentist...)
I'm going to try packing and freezing some of the food I cook. For some reason, I keep cooking like we have a houseful of teenagers; and then we end up bored out of our minds by leftovers that last too long. More organized people have always done this; I am a slow learner, when it comes to meal planning. Never too late, right? The second part of the project is using stuff we have stuffed in the freezer! I remembered to put some chicken in the refrigerator to thaw, last night. There is, however, a small lasagna, of an uncertain year of origin ("probably this decade" is best I can do), which I figure needs to be retired.
Not very much excitement planned for this week. Having lunch with my dad's cousin on Thursday, and we'll probably window shop and catch up a little.
What's happening at your place?
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48 comments:
W: So remember the (totally predictable, red state) criticism I got for my keynotes last weekend? I keep telling myself it was predictable, that offending people in this way is actually good, that I'm not taking it personally. Dreaming about it, and making it worse in my dreams? I'm guessing that means I haven't quite convinced myself.
W: So tired from introvert overload. So tired.
((( Esperanza ))) But didn't you also get kudos? That part was buoying you last week, if I recall; and that part sounds like something to hold on to. If there was controversy? Well, people need to start talking these things out in a civilized, humane, loving manner. xoxo
OH, shoot! I have been spacing my Grace and Frankie episodes, trying to ration them, but I'm already up to watching #10, and there are only 13. Definitely need to save a couple for tomorrow night, so I can not watch something else happening....
That just sounds so pathetic. But I love this series so much!
AW: My sweetie hung another bird feeder outside my office window! I haven't seen any bird visitors; they probably haven't figured out it's there yet. But hope springs eternal. The other feeder is basically a mesh bag -- tiny finches land and eat, and the little brown birds eat the spillage from the ground. Cute and cute!
Esperanza, I too tend to fixate on any negative feedback I receive, instead of all of the positive. Hugs.
Old Skool: E's beloved stuffed penguin has been missing for two weeks now. We did not leave the house on the day she went missing. She HAS to be in this house. How many fireplacing hiding spots can one house have? This is bugging me as much as it's bugging E.
AW: we're getting some excellent cleaning and purging done while we search for Baby Pinga.
W: E is so sad about this missing penguin, and is not distracted by the new stuffed animal she picked out after her dental appointment. I've taken to looking online for a replacement (she's a common brand, but easiest to find in Australia, which is where my inlaws bought her).
I hope this doesn't come off the wrong way! But, E will have a lot of losses in her life. There isn't really a way to replace someone we love. It is great that you've been searching the house -- and offloading excess! But, also not the end of everything if she learns to accept loss, and then that there is still a lot to love. That she can remember, even if Beloved Penguin is out of her sight now; but it need not be the center of everything, even in her grief.
Our beloved cat ran off when my daughter was around the same age. I suspected she was ill, even though the vet didn't find anything. Cats sometimes run off when they are that ill. My daughter is 29 now, and still remembers Nikki with love. Just saying, it's OK to learn to grieve and move on; that the love is still there. xoxo
Yes, I've now gone through and saved all the posts on FB with positive feedback. Logic is just failing me, at least unconsciously.
QWP, I'm always way more anxious about a lost giraffey than Mini is.
Honestly, E has had to handle a little too much loss (of the beloved people and animals) lately, and if I could manage to avoid another lesson on handling loss, for the next while (by finding it, distracting her successfully, or tricking her with a new one), that would drastically decrease the anxiety levels around here.
Esperanza: ugh, at least it wasn't E's stuffed kitty. I've had a serious talk with E about "Gnocchi doesn't leave they house anymore, and we aren't going to play hide and seek with our stuffed animals anymore, because we can't remember our clever hiding spots," because dear goodness: we need to keep that irreplaceable kitten in bubble wrap. E doesn't sleep without her kitty. At all.
oxoxo
My personal head is already exploding with political type news, and it's only Monday. The really bad day will be tomorrow, featuring an event I can't watch directly for fear of permanent damage.
AW: Indian butter chicken; rice; steamed spaghetti squash. Want some?
What a good idea to save up some Grace and Frankie episodes to watch during the political event, Kathy. (And please pass the leftovers. That sounds amazing!)
AW: my kitchen is clean, and I spent the evening going through seed catalogues, and planning out my next garden. Wow, is that ever good for my brain. (Um, I'm going to grow five different variants of tomatoes this year. It's ridiculous how many other seeds I'm ordering, because my garden is going to be 80% tomatoes.)
Thanks for hosting, kathy. Yay for freezer clean-outs and yummy chicken!
(((esperanza))) I do the same thing. Negative feedback gets free reign to run around in my brain. Positive feedback is either quickly forgotten or minimized ("She was just being polite"). *sigh* I totally hear you on the introvert overload too - you were with a big group for a bunch of days last week. However wonderful it might be, those weeks are exhausting. Reclaim some time for yourself if you're able.
QWP - I do hope E's penguin is found asap. As you said, he's in the house somewhere. It's -34C here this morning, so seed catalogues sound encouraging. As a friend says, "Protect your optimism!"
Protecting my optimism tonight by NOT watching news. I. Can't. Even.
I just got caught up on US news, and now I think I need more time with my seed catalogue to recover.
Every day, a new horror show. Definitely not contributing to anything that might make someone brag about ratings.....
The jackass in chief will live stream on his fundraising website, and scroll the names of donors. Not making this up! He is using a speech to the people as a fundraiser for his re-election campaign. No words for how fireplaced up this is.
In household news, my sweetie will be gone for a couple days. The dog will have sadz.
Wait - like a telethon???? That is so messed up. Ugh.
Poor sad pup. :(
AW/W: So, I'm producing a short film. Ya. You know how our church structure is changing and we're all going to be in different governing regions? Well, this December, we need to say goodbye to the governing body we've been in since 1943. I suggested (a moment of foolishness) we make a video to celebrate all the good things about our region, the work we've done, etc...
I happen to know a local filmmaker who will work with me for a reasonable fee...so my office is covered in pages on the way to making a story board.
It's kind of exciting, actually.
W: Because we're the church, I'm waiting for the part where EVERYONE knows EXACTLY what should go in the film. It will only be about 15 minutes, so film time will be precious. Folks will be disappointed. Stuff will end up on the cutting room floor. But hopefully, what's left will be enough to make up for people's sadz.
Oh, that sounds fun, Sue! Make sure to remind everybody about the limited time, trying to cover a range of ideas.
Right, he's using it like a telethon.
As I suspected, the banana I brought to have with my lunch today was not ripe enough. Very dry, not sweet...bleh.
That's some excellent Old Skool, Sue!
Is it over yet? I fear not, but have spent fruitful time talking with a sister, coddling the dog and cats, attending to other business, and I still have some Grace and Frankie left.
Still going, according to the twitters.
Well, what with one thing and another, I have managed to [1] not watch any of the monstrosity, and [2] only get through half a a Grace and Frankie! This is definitely the best way to not watch SOTU in these modern times. Chats with a sister, daughter, husband; found this legal thing my daughter was curious about, related to her legal writing class; watched a music video from a friend, which led me to another video; tended to the dog; did the dishes; etc. My blood pressure is doing surprisingly well!
Good morning! By 9:00 this morning, I'd scrubbed all of the (horribly sticky) kitchen floors, oiled the butcher block, and washed a load of laundry. I'm now relaxing in a sunbeam and drinking tea (normally I'd be using my SAD lamp, but it's a really nice, sunny day today). I don't know what came over me, but it's really helped my brain to do some deep cleaning.
Old Skool: I'd really like to take a hot shower now, but my tub is full of the kitchen floor mats, and I'm too tired to deal with them right now.
kathy, I avoided the blood pressure spikes last evening as well, though I wasn't nearly as social as you were. I hid in my room and read a book, which was good for my introvert self after a highly peopled day.
QWP - yay for real sunshine!! And cleaning and laundry - well done!
W: I really, truly, dislike January. Not because of the cold weather - that's just life in Canada. It's just a month that seems to never end. I will be happy to flip the calendar tomorrow.
Oh, yes. And February is a short month! By the end, more longer hours of light!
Kudos to QWP for power cleaning, followed by some relaxation in the sun!
QWP, whatever came over you, please send it my way!
W: I have just returned from volunteering at the Baboos' school. Three conversations, one with each of Sweet's teachers, have led to the conclusion that the new ADHD medication is (a) not helping; and has (b) made her horribly sad and withdrawn. So, I've emailed the doctor, which is the best way to contact him. If I don't hear from him soon, we're quitting it anyway. I would like some guidance on whether cold turkey is a good way to quit it or not.
I don't know anything about this, Esperanza! But why don't you google the particular med, look for recommendations about discontinuing? With some meds, it's better to reduce the dosage over a week or 2.
xoxo
Here's something that might help, Esperanza: https://childmind.org/article/how-to-take-kids-off-medication/
Found the FDA info, which says to wean gradually. She's already on a pretty small dose, so I should be able to half it for about a week, then discontinue. I gave her the regular dose tonight and will hope to hear from the doctor soon.
Oh oh oh. I got to the end of grace and frankie, season 4 -- and too quickly, seeing how it's only 13 episodes and this has been a rough week. And the idea of waiting another year for more is not acceptable. That is all.
esperanza, it might help to check with a pharmacist about weaning. They'll likely back up what the website says, but they also get direct feedback from clients/customers about how works out.
kathy, 'tis the dilemma of binge watching, yes? It's awesome at the time then the wait is seemingly endless.
Speaking of endless - ugh!! I had a sleepless night. I nodded off while trying to read last evening and woke up half an hour later, so I knew my night was going to be tricky. Today is going to be a long day.
Good idea about the pharmacist, Sue. I filled this prescription at my local, family owned pharmacy (and later lost an argument with the insurance company about doing so) for just such a contingency.
Sorry for the sleepless night, Sue. That's no good.
Oh, no, about the sleepless night!
Hope the doctor and/or pharmacist can help, esperanza.
I'm going to lunch with a cousin today, and Clyde is going to go play with his doggie pals.
I'm glad that you can talk to a local pharmacist about this pharmacist (but, as always, my head hurts at the idea of insurance covering only certain pharmacies).
W: tension headache. My shoulder and neck are also locked up (I'm not sure if the headache is because of neck and shoulder, or vice versa). I'm having trouble being patient with my clingy kid, because I'm so sore and tense.
QWP, it is totally stoopid. I will not hurt your head any more with the details, as they are illogical and arbitrary.
AW: doctor emailed me back (in less than 24 hours!) to say she can just stop taking it cold turkey.
Ouchy, QWP, on the head/neck/shoulder thing.
AW: I'm at the office today, and the weather is lovely, and I'm wearing sandals, and I walked to the convenience store down the street to get a drink.
Oh, such nice weather, Esperanza!
AW: big difference in Sweet already this morning.
W: Now I feel bad that her teachers noticed the change in her behavior and demeanor before I did. :(
Esperanza, of course her teachers noticed it first! That's so normal. She's in her safe space at home, and she spends most of her day (and especially the hardest part of her day) at school. Ask any educator, and they'll tell you it's normal (it's why E's optometrist had a lot of questions about if her teacher had any concerns: a lot of things are only apparent during the school day).
Speaking of the optometrist: an anti-whine! E's last few eye appointments were stressful, with (hated) eye drops, and questions about whether to give her glasses immediately or in a year. But this time was all better! Since last summer (the last follow up), E has finally developed depth perception (and the ability to see 3D movies), as her vision has improved. No glasses, and no need for eye drops! The eye doctor had a lot of questions about whether I'd noticed a significant decrease in clumsiness, which is true! I thought it was just the result of soccer.
(Side note: obviously, glasses wouldn't be the end of the world -- I got my first pair at the beginning of grade 4, and it's likely that this kid will follow in her mom and grandma's footsteps -- but I'm relieved that I don't have to deal with them QUITE yet.)
I didn't get glasses until my later teens, but I needed them long before. They are my most precious possession. Better to check than to be sorry!
Esperanza, so good that Sweet's doing better! And, that the teachers had their eyes open to things you could not see while she is in school. One of many things I love about good teachers.
Nice lunch and stroll with a cousin yesterday! Good chance to catch up, and perfect weather in the low 70's F. When I went to fetch Clyde, he was outdoors in the play yard, lounging in a kiddie pool! Damp but happy boy.
Work has been super busy for my beloved, and it looks like he'll be in a trial quite a distance away, expected to last weeks. Not until next month -- and I can't really complain, since I did that sort of thing earlier in my career, commuting home on weekends.
I've taken the precaution of getting another 20 visit package at the day care, because despite my other attributes as a dog parent, I am not the "let's go for a 2 hour hike, uphill" kind of parent; and this dog has ever so much energy. A day here, a day there with the dog friends is all to the good.
Hooray for E for making so much progress with her eyes! (No, glasses are clearly not the end of the world. Sweet has done amazingly well with her--first pair was second grade. I have had mine since age 13, but like kathy a, I needed them long before that).
Sweet's teacher is excellent. I can't come up with enough superlatives for her.
The fireplacing memo has been released. This is pissing me off, plus it is the most obviously partisan, goal oriented 4 page piece of fireplace. (Not making this up: it didn't even try to be objective or bipartisan. It was written by the members of one party on a committee, to the staff of members of that party on the committee.) Time to go see my Grey's episode from last night.
This memo hurts my brain.
I'm waving from underneath a pile of kindergarten application paperwork, and it turns out that I'm missing two forms (medication release form, for her inhaler, and a media release form). Mr. Q went to the school information night last night, and accidentally brought only the form for reregistering, and none of the application materials. (But E's preschool is it the same building, and so the front office gave me the rest of the paperwork.)
Side note: it's funny to fill out application forms, as a new family, when one's husband's picture is in the school brochure.
I didn't make that whine very clear (I'm distracted): I went to register E for kindergarten today, and found out that Mr. Q had only brought home a fraction of the forms we needed.
Well, all fixed, QWP! Even if you forget some paperwork, they'll remind you; but sounds like it's all covered now.
So, back in the day, my son was in baseball and scouts with the boys of a nearby family. And we shared even more during the bad patch, since one of their boys also went through a bad patch. Long time ago, and we fell out of touch; but I saw the dad today on an errand! Everybody's doing great! That was fun. :)
Quiet in here!
AW: Daughter visited a good friend Friday, on her way to a job fair in the Big City a couple hours from her home. Then she did the job fair, dropped off resumes and chatted with people at all the booths she wanted to visit. And then she had an actual sit-down interview, which went really well! She knows there are few legal internships for students just past first year, but was really excited anyway to make those contacts.
Apparently some sports thing is happening in 3 hours or so. That's the time to hit the supermarket! Now is not a good time, from various reports, not at all.
W: Sports thing apparently requires loud tv volume. I do not understand.
We just had a conversation consisting of:
Q: What's the score?
A: How should I know?
Followed by the Dog Man parking the dog in front of the game, which upset the dog so there was barking, and was followed by me changing the channel while my beloved cooks dinner. Because, even he isn't interested enough to watch it.
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